Dishwashing machine



June 16, 1936. 5 -r b 2,044,132

DISHWASHING MACHINE I Filed March 3, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 53 50 I 57 55 57 fijgl 13 fill/6%";- Edgar 5. Stoddard B vwwol m June 16, 1936. E. s. STODDARD DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 0 w n m B O 1 Z 5 w m z B Z v ITLU6TL67 v Edgar Stoddard 7 By June 16, l936. s STODDARD 2,044,132

' DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f, llll 185 IlllV II" I Patented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES DISHWASHING MACHINE Edgar S. Stoddard, Berwyn, Ill.. assignor to The Conover Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation 01' Illinois Application March a, 1932, Serial No. 596.427

BClaims.

The present invention relates to dishwashing machines in general, and has particular reference to improvements in spray-projecting dishwashing machines which are preferably of the de- 5 tached or movable type.

One of the objects of the invention is to,provide a simplified frame and tank structure giving an improved ease of assemblage and a sturdy structure.

10 Another object is to provide an improved drain valve for the dishwashing tank.

An improved inlet and outlet pipe arrangement adjustable vertically and horizontally for the ingress and egress of washing liquid is a fur- 15 ther object of this invention.

An additional object is an improved cover ventilator and the elimination of cover clamps.

These and other objects will appear from the following description and from the accompany- 20 ing drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial cross-section of the assembled machine; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the cover ventilating member viewed along the line 22 of Fig. 1; 5 Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of the operating and water actuating mechanism along line 3---3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial elevation of the rotary drain valve actuating mechanism showing the overflow 3 shield;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the cover hinge I along line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of the cover hinge along line 6-6 of Fig. 5; r 60 *Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the combined inlet and outlet water conduits;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view along line ll8 of Fig. '7;

Fig; 9 is a plan view of the silver rack;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the silver rack along line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of the separated tank frame structure; and Fig. 12 is a plan view of the interior of the tank bottom as shown in Fig. 1, showing the baflle structure on the impeller guard with th upper structure of the guard cut away.

The machine disclosed in the drawings is of the type utilizing a spray-projecting impeller for hurling washing water against dishes which are held in racks thereabove.

With reference to the drawings and more specifically to Figs. 1 and 11 thereof, it will be seen that a tank Isis supported within a frame Ill. Frame II! comprises a circular'band ii to which motor are all rigidly drawn together so as to reduce vibration to a. minimum.

are aflixed by welding or other suitable means three depending legs I2. Each of these legs carries a rubber tired caster I3. As most dishwashing machine tanks are of vitreous enamel finish, the difiiculties ordinarily encountered in attach- 5 ing various operating elements of the machine to the tank wall are overcome and damage to the tank while the machine is in operation is avoided by mounting these operating elements on the frame structure. 10

Supported between the legs l2 of the frame is a brace or spider ll. This spider holds the legs firmly in place and prevents any buckling thereof when the machine is moved.

The tank I8 is cylindrical in shapeand open at 15 its upper end. The rim of the open end of the tank is curved outwardly and downwardly to form a lip or hooked flange l9. When the tank is is dropped into frame lo, the lip l9 engages band H and holds the tank suspended therefrom. I

The structural formation of the tank I itself is similar to that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 389,696, filed Augst 31, 1929. As shown, it has an inwardly and downwardly sloping bottom 20 which becomes more inclined toward the central portion as at 2|, terminating in a depressed portion which forms a well chamber 22 and a pump chamber 25 immediately thereunder. The bottom of the well chamber slopes downwardly towards its center and is stepped at 23 to provide a. seat for a pump chamber cover 24. The bottom of the pump chamber 25 is apertured at 26 to receive the impeller shaft mechanism which extends upwardly therethrough into the main portion of the tank l8.

The impeller operating mechanism is supported from the hour of the pump chamber 25 in such a manner that the tank l8, the spider l1 and the Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, a motor I5 is rigidly aflixed to an iron spinning III by bolts H. The top of the spinning is provided with a recessed shelf portion which receives a lower noise insulator I4. Resting upon this lower insulator 14 is the spider or brace l1 and on top of the spider, and betweenit and the bottom of the pump chamber is a cork gasket 15 which helps to prevent the leakage of water from the pump chamber down" to the motor l5.

Fixed to th inner side of the bottom 01' the pump chamber is the upper noise insulator I8 and aplate 18);... This assemblage is rigidly held together by elongated 'bolts '1'! which "extend downwardly through aligned apertures in the plate 18, insulator I6, the bottom of the pump chamber, gasket I5, spider II, the spinning I0, and insulator 14 and are fastened within the spinning by being screwed into plate I3.

Lower insulator I4 is .preferably substantially thicker in its outer portions so that as the bolts II are tightened the outer portions of the insulator will be compressed until they are of the same thickness as the center portion.

When tank I8 is dropped into the frame I0, the pump chamber bottom and the spider H are preferably spaced slightly apart. By tightening the bolts II, the spider I1 is drawn up to the tank bottom and the frame, tank, and motor are held rigidly together.

A bearing tube 12 is screwed into an upward annular extension of plate I3, and extends upwardly into the interior of tank I8 through the aperture 26 in the pump chamber bottom.

An impeller shaft 19 is rotatably mounted within the bearing tube I2 and is connected to a motor shaft 8| by a coupler 82 which is enclosed. within the spinning 10. To the upper end of the impeller shaft 19 an impeller 83 is affixed by slot and key arrangement 84. A nut 85 is screwed on to the end of the shaft I9. Screwed to the impeller 83 is the pump tube 80 which extends downwardly into the pump chamber 25 and carries pump blades 86. I

The impeller 83 is of the spray-projecting type and hurls water contained in tank I8 against dishes and silverware contained in racks H6 and I20, respectively, provided in tank I8.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the pump chamber cover 24 has a central aperture provided.

with an upwardly extending collar I which has a plurality of drain outlets IOI therein. A rotatable valve actuating ring I05 is seatedupon the top of the collar I 00. The inner rotatable valve plug I 02, provided with drain outlets I04, is mounted within the collar I00 by means of the regulating nut I06. This nut permits the vertical regulation of plug I02 so that its openings I04 may coact with outlets IOI of the collar I00. When proper adjustment is obtained, the nut I06 and the ring I05 may be soldered together so that the adjustment of plug I02 will not vary during operation of the machine.

The ring I05 has an actuating arm I01 carrying a post I08 which receives and holds one end of a drain valve control wire I09. The drain control wire I09 is slidably enclosed within a drain wire tube or housing IIO which leaves the well chamber 22 at a point beneath the apron 90. The housing IIO follows the general contour of the tank wall I8 to the switch box I4 on the frame band II. The upper end of control wire I09 is attached to the drain handle. I6.

Rigidiy afiixed to the switch box I4 is a drain handle tube 5 having a projecting pin 6 extending therefrom. The housing H0 is afiixed to the lower end of this tube 5. The drain handle I6 extends through tube 5 and is slotted to receive pin 6 to prevent rotation of the handle I6. By preventing the twisting of handle I6 breakage of the drain wire is avoided.

The housing I I0 is rigidly affixed to the well chamber 22 wall at its lower end by a watertight bushing III which is threaded upon its well chamber interior portion. Over this threaded portion is screwed an annular nut H2 and suitable washers are supplied to make the joint water-proof. A hole i bored through this bushing preferably at the angle of the housing I I 0.

.The housing is passed through this hole and soldered or welded into place. By this method the entire drain valve wire and housing may be removed without injury to the tank wall. Leakage is prevented by elimination at this point of packing glands and moving parts. When the drain handle I6 is in the lowered position shown in Fig. 1, the drain valve is closed. By raising the drain valve handle I6 the drain valve plug I02 is rotated so that its openings I04 are in alignment with openings IOI of collar thereby permitting water from the tank to flow into the pump chamber.

In order to regulate the. height of washing water in the tank I8 so as to keep the machine working at maximum efliciency, an overflow tube 88 is seated on and affixed rigidly to the valve plug I02 by a water-tight connection. This tube is spaced from the pump tube 80 and is preferably flush with the inner surface of the plug I02. When the plug I02 is rotated so that its outlets I04 do not coact with outlets IOI, water must pass over the top of tube 88 and pass downwardly between it and the pump tube 80 into the pump chamber 25 in order to leave the tank.

An overflow shield 89 may be fitted over and spaced from the overflow tube 88 to prevent swirling of water at the top of the overflow tube. This shield is supported by posts 94 on the pump cover by crimping inwardlythe lower rim of the shield as at 93 so it may be snapped into place in grooves 95 provided for that purpose in posts 94. These posts also act as vertical baiiles to retard rotary movement of the water adjacent the central portion of the chamber. The apron 90 which is clamped about the shield 89 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) acts to prevent food particles which settle down into the well chamber 22 from returning to the main body of washing water. Bailies 92 are placed on the pump cover 24 to further retard swirling of the water in the well chamber.

An impeller guard I I1 is placed over the impeller 83 to prevent dishes or silverware from falling onto the impeller. This guard may be integral with the disk racks I I6. In machines of the impeller type, it has been found desirable to provide baiiies on the tank bottom to slow down the rapidly swirling water and to feed it onto the impeller blades. In the present invention baflles I I3 (Fig. 12) affixed to the impeller guard III, are utilized for this purpose. I have found that an efficient action is obtained by curving these bafiles convexly to the direction of rotation of the impeller. In addition to feeding the impeller, this baffle structure greatly reduces turbulence adjacent the bottom of the tank, so the food particles forced outwardly by centrifugal motion of the water settle to the bottom of the tank, descend along the inclined bottoms 20 and 2I thereof and pass into the well chamber 22.

The dish holding rack II6 may be of any suitable construction such as that disclosed in copending application, Serial No. 433,206, filed March 5, 1930, by Edgar S. Stoddard. Adjacent the outer portion of this rack is mounted the silverware rack I20 (Figs. 9, The body portion of this silverware rack is curved to correspond to the curvature of the tank wall and is provided with a number of vertical silverware receiving compartments I2I, which extend downwardly substantially one-half the distance to the bottom of the rack. Adjacent the lower portion of these compartments the rack is provided with a centrally positioned and longitudinally extending bar I22, the upper portion of which extends through the walls of the compartments to form a central partition. The bottom I23 of the silverware rack preferably declines from its central portion outwardly to insure adequate draining of wash liquid and food particles. The rack is open at its sides between the bottom I23 and the lower portion of the compartments in order that wash liquid may be projected directly against the lower portion of silverware therein, and directly and by deflection against the upper portion of said silverware. Baille strips I25 extend longitudinally of the rack substantially midway between the bottom I23 and the lower portion of the compartments, and act to prevent silverware from sliding out of the rack and possibly into the impeller.

An important feature of this silverware rack is the material from which it is made. It has been found that metal racks scratch and nick thesilverware even when it is carefully placed within the apertures I2I. The silverware is also rattled about by the spraying action of the washing liquid causing it to become marred. For these reasons it has been found necessary to make the basket from materials of a lesser degree of hardness than that of the silverware. Bakelite has been found to be very satisfactory for this purpose.

Inlet conduit 50 (Figs. 1, 7) is made up of a plurality of cooperating tubes. An inlet funnel 52 is threaded at 53 for the reception of a funnel tube 54. This funnel. tube is adjustably mounted for rotation and longitudinal movement within a horizontal inlet tube 55. Upon the inner'end of the funnel tube 54 are a plurality of raised stop and spacing members 56 which coact with a stufiing nut 51 to provide a substantially water-tight joint and to prevent outward movement of the funnel tube therebeyond. The upper portion 53 of the double elbow 51 receives the horizontal inlet tube 55. Threaded to the lower and outer portions of double elbow 51 is the vertical sliding inlet tube 58. This tube 58 is telescopically and rotatably mounted within the lower vertical inlet tube 59, and is provided at its lower end with stop and spacing members 56 which coact with a stuffing nut 60 to prevent upward movement of sliding tube 58 therebe-' yond.

In operation, the machine is moved to the vicinity of the sink and the inlet conduit system is adjusted in length and height so that the funnel 52 is positioned just beneath the faucet. The collar 6| is provided with a set screw or other conventional means whereby it may be seated against the stuffing nut 60 and secured in position to maintain the conduit system at the proper elevation with respect 'to the faucet and sink.

An inlet T 62 communicates with the lower end of vertical tube 59 through an upper arm 63. The inlet conduit is turned within the T and follows the T leg 65 to an aperture in the tank wall. A flanged inlet bushing 61 is screwed from the interior of the tank into the T leg 65,

thereby forming a water-tight connection with the tank wall by means of suitable gaskets or washers.

The outlet conduit I leads from the pump chamber 25 upwardly-and has a portion which is concentric but out of communication with the inlet conduit 56, terminating in the horizontal outlet tube Ill. The lower horizontal outlet tubes I32 extend from the pump chamber 25 and are provided with an emergency drain plug I33. An elbow I34 turns the outlet conduit upwardly and receives the lower vertical drain tube I35 in its upper arm. The upward end of vertical outlet tube I35 is flanged outwardly at I36 and held thereby within an interiorly threaded stuffing nut I31. This nut I31 is screwed upon the lower arm I38 of the T 62 holding the outlet system affixed to the inlet system.

An upper vertical outlet tube I39 communicates with an inner opening I40 in the double elbow 51, and extends downwardly through and concentric with inlet tubes 59 and 59. The lower portion of this vertical outlet tube is slidably received by the lower leg I36 of the T 52, and extends through said leg into the lower outlet tube I35. The inlet conduit and the outlet conduit I36 are thus in concentric vertical relation for a portion of their length. To the. outer end of the opening I45 in elbow 51 is aflixed the horizontal outlet tube I3I which has a downwardly turned end portion to. permit water from the tank to be discharged into a sink or other receptacle.

A flange I59 (Fig. 1) extends downwardly from the switch box I4 on the frame band II and has a horizontal loop I5I (Fig. '1) formed in its end portion. This loop I5I fits about the tube 59, thereby supporting the inlet and outlet conduit system upon the frame I0.

It is obvious that wash water admitted to funnel 52 passes by gravity through horizontal tubes 54 and 55, elbow 51, vertical tubes 58 and 59, and into the tank by way of leg of the T 62.

Excess water in the tank passes over the overflow tube 88 and into the pump chamber. It is then ejected through horizontal outlet tubes I32, elbow I34, lower vertical tube I35, upper. vertical outlet tube I39, channel I40 of elbow 51, and horizontal outlet tube I3I. The pump blades in the pump, chamber rotate as long as the motor is in operation, thereby insuring that water in the pump chamber is adequately discharged.

To drain the tank after a washing or rinsing operation, the valve I62 is opened allowing all the water in the, tank to be drained into the pump chamber from which it is discharged as described heretofore.

Referring to Figs. 1, '2, 5 and 6, the cover 28 is formed with the depending flange 46 (which is received within the upper portion of the tank) and an outwardly extending flange 41 which overlies the rim or lip I9 of the tank I8. About the wall of tank I8 at its upper end is an indented rib 21 which extends inwardly beyond the flange 45 forming a sheltering baiiie for the joint between the flange 46 and the tank wall. The flange 46 is spaced inwardly from the tank wall forming a pocket 43 therebetween which prevents leakage of water, and yet permits sudden gusts of steam to raise the unsecured cover and to escape from the. tank. With this form of cover structure no clamps are needed.

At times steam collects under the central portion of the cover 28, and to relieve any excess pressure at this point, I insert a ventilator 4| in the cover. As shown in Fig. 1, the ventilator 4| is inserted through an opening 40 in a depressed portion 39' of the cover 23, so that no part of the ventilator will project above the surface of' the cover. This will permit a tray or other object to be placed upon the cover when closed.

The ventilator comprises a hollow cylindrical rubber member open at the upper end and closed at its bottom 42. Adjacent its bottom 42 the ventilator is provided with openings 43 which communicate with a central discharge opening 44. Water sprayed from the impeller cannot pass out of the tank through this opening and yet any pressure due to steam may be relieved. The ventilator is held in place by a channel 45 which passes circumferentially thereabout adjacent its top. This channel receives the perimeter of the opening 40 and forms a substantially water-tight connection therewith.

In accordance with my invention, the cover 28 is supported from the band ll of frame I0. An upper hinge portion 29 aflixed to the cover 28 is joined by a rod 3| to a lower hinge portion 30 which is aflixed to band ll. Frame leg i 2 is slightly cut away at its upper end 32 to receive this lower hinge 30.

The lower hinge portion has an outer fiat strip and an inner arcuate strip 38 which is shaped to fit band II and secured thereto by bolts 39.

The cover is supported in a horizontal position when open by means oi. a support rod 33 which is hinged at its lower end to one of the legs i2 of the frame Ill at 34. This rod 33 is Y-shaped at its upper end and has a cross piece and cover rest 35 connecting the arms of the Y. Pivotally mounted on the cross piece 35 are the rods 36 which extend over to the upper hinge portion 29 and are pivotally mounted thereto at 31. When the cover is closed, the support rod is in the position shown in Figs. and 6. As the cover is opened, the support rod rotates outwardly about its pivotal connection 34, and when the cover has been opened to an inverted horizontal position the support rod is in such position that the cross piece 35 forms a stable rest for the cover. Dishes may then be placed on the inverted cover without danger of distorting the cover hinge.

Over the tank rim or lip I3 is placed a rubber cushion 49 (Figs. 1 and 5) upon which the flange 41 of the cover may rest. This cushion prevents chipping oi dishes and glassware passed carelessly over the tank rim and substantially reduces any rattling oi. the loosely held cover. The cushion does not act as a gasket to prevent leakage of water because of its loose fit with the unclamped cover.

The cushion 43 is a continuous strip of rubber which in cross-section resembles substantially a numeral 9. It has an outwardly and downwardly curved outer lip portion which follows the curvature of the rim I9 and rests against the band II. The downwardly extending inner or stem portion lies along the interior of the rim of the tank and against the tank wall. In this form of cushion the strain is placed upon the external lip portion holding the cushion on the rim is and thereby preventing the lower stem portion from buckling away from the tank wall. By giving the stem portion a snug fit with the tank wall, food particles cannot collect between the cushion and the tank wall.

In operation 01' the dishwashing machine iaucet water is allowed to run into the inlet conduit while the motor is running until it' is seen to be discharged into the sink through the outlet conduit, whereupon it-is then insured that the tank is filled with the proper amount 01 water. This amount may be 01- the order of five quarts, for example. The water isfimnshut oil and the partly submerged impeller is operated until dishes in racks held thereabove are sufllciently cleansed. The machine is then drained by operation of the push-pull wire connected to the drain valve. Ordinarily, the dishes will then be 5 rinsed in a similar manner.

It will be seen that many variations are possible in the above described structure, and such modifications as are within the spirit of my invention are intended to be included in the apl0 pended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dishwashing machine, a tank, an inlet conduit communicating with the side of the tank, an outlet'conduit communicating with the lower portion of the tank, a T having its horizontal arm connected to said inlet conduit and its lower arm communicating with-the outlet conduit, a lower vertical inlet conduit communicating with the upper arm of said T, a vertical drain tube slidably and rotatably mounted in the lower arm of said T, said drain tube extending upwardly concentric to said inlet conduit, a vertical slid- I ing inlet conduit mounted in said lower vertical inlet tube conduit. 9. double elbow connected to the upper ends of saidslidable inlet conduit and said slidable drain tube, said elbow having horizontal ports for each of said slidable tubes, and separate horizontal conduits communicating with each of said ports.

2. In a dishwashing machine, a tank having an inlet opening and an outlet opening in the lower portion thereof, an inlet conduit communicating with said inlet opening, an outlet conduit communicating with said outlet opening, said conduits having concentric vertical portions and horizontal terminating portions rotatably mounted with respect to-said concentric portions.

3. In a dishwashing-machine, a tank, an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit communicating with said tank, said conduits having vertical concentric portions, and terminating portions slidably mounted with respect to said concentric portions. 45

4. In a dishwashing machine, a tank, an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit communicating therewith, said conduits having lower vertical concentric portions, and upper vertical concentric portions slidably mounted for rotation and vertical adjustment, a double elbow connected to upper ends of said upper concentric portions, said elbow having horizontal non-concentric ports, and horizontal terminating tubes communicating with said ports, whereby adjustment of one of said tubes effects adjustment or the other.

5. In a dishwashing machine, a tank, an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit communicating with said tank, said conduits having vertical concentric portions telescopically arranged tor rotation and vertical adjustment of the upper portions thereof, means for maintaining said up-- per portions in fixed vertical adjustment, and

horizontal terminat ng portions communicating with said upper portions, at least one oi. said terminating portions being telescopically arranged for horizontal adjustment.

6. In a dishwashing machine, a tank-provided 7 with a liquid chamber having a drain valve in the lower portion thereof, an actuating mechanism for said drain valve comprising a removable bushing extending through an opening in the wall of said liquid chamber below the normal liquid level therein, and in water-tight connection therewith, a housing extending through an opening in said bushing and rigidly attached in a water-tight connection to said bushing,at that point, said housing exteriorly to said liquid chamber extending upwardly along the side of said tank and terminating in a slide tube, avalve handle slidably mounted within said slide tube and held against rotation therein, and a drain valve wire afllxed at one end to said valve handle and extending through said housing in slidable relationship therewith, said drain valve wire at its other end within said liquid chamber being afllxed to said drainvalve for operatively opening and closing the same.

EDGAR S. STODDARD. 

